Last week, as quiet snow fell outside, I spoke at Wednesday morning chapel for Christopher Dock High School in Kulpsville, PA.  I shared with them about the reality of immigration in our country today – between 10-12 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States, many of them fearful of discovery.  I also shared that Christ, in teaching us how we are called to love our neighbor (Luke 10:25-29) often defines neighbor in a way that stands our usual definition on it’s head.  For Christ, loving our neighbor meant loving our enemy (Matthew 5:43-45) and loving the stranger in our midst (Leviticus 19:33-34). 

As disciples of Christ, and as citizens of the United States, recent events should be encouraging lively discussions among us on how we are called to love our neighbor, the recent immigrant.  In the past seven days, national news stories included:

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids last week that detained suspected undocumented parents at workplaces in Massachusetts and stranded their children at daycare facilities or with neighbors.  As is often the case, many of the children are U.S. Citizens, now facing the choice between separation from their parents and separation from the land of their birth.
• President Bush promising Mexican President Felipe Calderon that he would push for passage of immigration reform through Congress.  President Bush also noted that positive relations with Latin American neighbors hinge on immigration reform.  
• The start of a civil trial in Scranton, PA over whether the town of Hazleton, PA can enact it’s own laws to prevent undocumented immigrants from living or working in the town.  

As we witness each of these events unfold, we need to ask ourselves how God calls us to witness to the power of loving our neighbor as ourselves.  

One method of witness is to talk and pray about it in our congregations – a recently published MCC resource “Loving Strangers As Ourselves” provides biblical reflections and discussion questions to get such conversations started.  If getting a conversation started seems controversial, looking at the Safe Space Dialogue suggestions from the MCC Washington Office may give ideas of how to structure a “deepening dialogue” rather than a “divisive debate.”

Another method is to learn more about the connection of immigration to globalization.  There are also numerous resources available through the MCC US immigration desk.

Some may feel called to raise their voice or act for just immigration reform at a national and local level.  The most recent immigration action alert from the MCC Washington Office notes that reform should

1) allow immigrants to legally choose between temporary work and permanent residence in the U.S.,

2) ensure immigrants receive fair compensation and equal benefits and

3) enable immigrants to reunite with their families.

Likewise, at a local level, congregations can provide necessary support to families if raids occur in the area and can be a powerful voice in town council halls for welcoming rather than alienating the “stranger” among us [read the recent “welcoming” statement by the Lancaster, PA city council – scroll down two thirds of the document ]. 

Finally, for those of us who are long-term immigrants (our ancestors arrived several generations ago) it is important to remember, as Leviticus says, we were once strangers ourselves.

Like snow falling softly, years and generations passing can make it easy for us to forget this part of our history.  Understanding how our own ancestors arrival took place under much more open laws (until 1862 there was no federal regulation of immigration) and also how our arrival impacted those already here (particularly Native Americans) are important steps in discerning our call in this time and in this place to love the stranger among us.  

In 1998 I spent a month studying the Colombian conflict in Bogota with Peter and Paul Stuckey of the Colombian Mennonite Church and ten other North Americans and Colombians.  One of the first biblical reflections Peter shared with the group was on Esther 4:14 – “Who knows, but that you may have come to royal position for just such a time as this,” Mordechai challenges Queen Esther.  

Peter’s challenge to us was that as North Americans, we could speak to our governments, to our churches, to our friends in ways which the campesinos of Colombia, who were suffering the worst effects of the civil war would never have a chance to speak.  

Over that month I learned about actions my government was taking and saw first hand what effects those actions had.  

“Who knows . . . but for such a time as this . . .” 

It is still a relevant question for my life eight years later, in relation to Colombia and in relation to anti-racism, immigration and promoting alternatives to violence.  Eight years after seeing the negative impact that comes from my government narrowing its response to a complex conflict to more weapons and more fumigation, campesinos in rural Colombia are still suffering the worst effects [hear a podcast on a recent Justapaz report outlining human suffering of the conflict].   

Six decades after Colombia’s conflict began, we are still called to respond in solidarity with Mennonite and other evangelical churches in Colombia that seek a path to peace every day, often at great cost.  In the coming months, I encourage you to respond through the Days of Prayer and Action on May 20 and 21.   

Pray for Colombia, for her people and for her government.  Pray for Members of the U.S. Congress as they decide whether to continue sending military aid that further fuels the conflict.  Prayer for God to make plain our calling as followers of Christ, to show us how to respond from our position, as Mennonites, as North Americans.   

Then Act in Solidarity.  Read about the effects of the conflict on farmers and workers.  Learn what others are suggesting as a blueprint for a new U.S. policy toward Colombia.  Educate others and share your opinions with members of Congress.  Encourage others to take part in the days of Prayer and Action.